Circadian Rhythm Restriction

[nurse7502]

Hi everyone,

I am graduating from nursing school with my BSN in June and will soon after that be taking the NCLEX. I then will be applying to new graduate nurse positions. However, I need your help with guidance on my specific situation.

1.5 years ago, while I was in my junior year of nursing school, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and suddenly had to be hospitalized. My classmates and nursing professors are completely unaware of my hospitalization or me being bipolar because my symptoms that warranted hospitalization occurred while I was at home. I also had take time off from school due to my illness. I have been completely stable for well over 1 year now without even the smallest mood disruption. I have also been completely stable since I returned to nursing school last fall for senior year, which has been quite stressful. My grades are good (I was even inducted into Sigma Theta Tau [The National Nursing Honors Society]). I graduate nursing school in June. Honestly, if you were to meet me (before or even after my diagnosis of bipolar disorder), you would not at all suspect I have the disorder. My personality is always calm and collected. I have never exhibited any risk taking or dangerous/criminal behaviors.

My psychiatrist has told me that when I graduate nursing school, it will be absolutely contraindicated that I work night shift. He said that people with bipolar disorder have to keep a consistent sleep schedule. I will be more than able to work day shift, evening shift, and day/evening rotating. However, I will never be able to work night shift. The problem is that most of the new graduate RN jobs in my area (Baltimore, MD Metropolitan area) are Rotating shift jobs. I'm assuming that rotating shift includes night shift. How should I go about finding a job that fits my sleep schedule requirements? Is it okay to apply to a rotating shift jobs and then show the HR person (or nurse manager) that I have a documented disability that prevents me from working night shift? What are the laws behind that? Can they not refuse to hire me because of my disability even though my disability prevents me from performing one of the core functions of the job (working night shift). Please feel free to comment and give any advice that you may have. Also, if you know any recruiters or nurse managers in the Baltimore, MD area who may be able to give advice on this, please let me know.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

You can try, but new grads are a dime a dozen in most areas, so I doubt they will hire you since I don't know that bipolar is considered a disability.

Also some hospitals have unions that govern the rotations, so you would have to figure out how to work around that too! you may want to consider a job in a clinic.

Annie

[nursemaple2]

I would probably try public health or clinic. I am not saying they should not help, but the reality, at least in my Workplace, is they don't accommodate existing employees, never mind a new hire

[caliotter3]

I see no reason to disclose this information if you keep yourself together. Get around the shift problem by only applying for day shift jobs. You do not have to give anyone any reason why you can not or do not want to work nights. Just don't apply for night shift jobs. Be prepared to have a harder time getting a job, but don't make things difficult for yourself by disclosing medical information that could be detrimental to your ability to get a job.